At the foot of the Huancar mountain, of white rolling sands of quartz, and filled with mystery and legends, is to be found the village of Abra Pampa, 81 kilometres from Humahuaca, down National Route - Ruta Nacional Nº 9, a gravel road, but in good condition.

Considered the Capital of the Puna highlands, Abra Pampa is a town of simple and low built houses within the passionate Puna landscape. Its warm and cordial people will make the traveller feel like home.

Although Abra Pampa was founded on August 30th, 1883 as the capital of the Department of Cochinoca, it was only in 1907 when the railroad arrived that it really took off. The new town was called the Argentinean Siberia, which shows how cold and desolate the place was.

Naturally, this name did not survive for long and soon the town regained its former name.

Situated at 3484 m.a.s.l. and with a population of 5421, Abra Pampa serves as a centre for the population of the Puna.

Here one can find the experimental agricultural and livestock substation called "Abra Pampa Miraflores", where one can find in its natural habitat, the fauna of the gorge and the Puna. Siberian elm trees have been introduced to mitigate the harsh climate.

You can get to Casabindo, Laguna de los Pozuelos and Rinconada from Abra Pampa using a regular daily transport service. There is also regular service to Miraflores, in which experimental station vicuñas are raised in captivity, which supply good photo opportunities.

During the Easter festivities people come down from all over the Puna area, bringing their products to trade. There is accommodations to be had in the village and you can buy excellent cheese from goat or sheep.

One of the local attractions in this town are the carnival festivities, during which a ceremony takes place in the Huancar mountain, seven kilometres south of Abra Pampa, the disinterment of the Pujllay carnival devil, from the tomb which has been his abode since he was buried there the year before during the carnival on Temptation Sunday.

One can also visit the Museo Arqueológico Leopoldo Aban Archaeological Museum on Sarmiento Nr. 450, from Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 AM to Noon and from 3:00 PM till 08:00 PM.